Method and Apparatus for Improving Vehicle Fuel Economy

a fuel economy and vehicle technology, applied in lighting and heating apparatus, process and machine control, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of reducing efficiency and increasing the viscosity of the vehicle, and increasing the spin loss of rotating components in contact with the transmission fluid, so as to reduce transmission spin loss, improve the fuel economy of the vehicle, and reduce the effect of viscosity
US20070295475A1Active Publication Date: 2007-12-27GM GLOBAL TECH OPERATIONS LLC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
GM GLOBAL TECH OPERATIONS LLC
Publication Date
2007-12-27

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Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a transmission having a transmission sump that contains transmission fluid, and a heat exchanger disposed within said sump and at least partially submerged in the transmission fluid. The apparatus also includes an engine having a plurality of engine coolant channels. An engine pump is operatively connected to the engine. The engine pump is configured to transfer engine coolant through the plurality of engine coolant channels and then through the heat exchanger. Heat from the engine coolant is transferred to the transmission fluid when the engine coolant passes through the heat exchanger. The heat transferred to the transmission fluid decreases transmission fluid viscosity such that transmission spin losses are reduced and fuel economy is improved. A corresponding method for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle is also provided.
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention pertains generally to a method and apparatus for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle during warm-up by absorbing heat from the vehicle's engine and transferring the absorbed heat to the vehicle's transmission.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] After a vehicle is started, it goes through a “warm-up” period during which component temperatures are increased from an ambient temperature to a steady state operating temperature. A vehicle's transmission fluid is one such component that is heated during the warm-up period. Until the transmission fluid is fully heated, its viscosity is increased and the spin losses of rotating components in contact with the transmission fluid are also increased. The increased spin losses during the warm-up period reduce efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to improve the fuel economy of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a transmi...

Claims

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